Flying kites is a popular pastime enjoyed by millions of people around the world, but wind, space and equipment conditions can make it a hobby that takes some skill to master – especially if you are a novice. With some practice and learning common problems beforehand, you can make your experience more enjoyable. Too Strong Winds The wind is great for this hobby, but it depends on the conditions. Ideally, winds traveling 5 to 25 mph are best for sport kites. Winds at these speeds are high enough to get things moving, but not too much to make it blow away. You will find it to be much more enjoyable if winds are medium – not too strong and not too light. These types of conditions allow you to control the instrument better and put you at an advantage; you control flying, not the wind.
If air conditions are too strong or too light, it will be much more difficult to launch or sustain your equipment. You can use a flag or a windsock to help judge wind conditions, but make sure you monitor conditions before you launch. A day with zero wind speed is not ideal.
Erratic Flying
You can’t properly launch or sustain in the air if you’re erratic. If your kite is all over the place, a tail can help add more weight and stabilize it for better movement. Adding a tail will make it slow down and easier to fly.
Broken String Or Tangled Lines
You can’t fly with a broken string. Problem is, the wind or objects like trees can easily break your string. Flyers find that a broken string is more common than you might think. To avoid this, use a stronger, more durable line or use a double line instead of a single line kite.
Flying with someone else is great – until your lines become tangled. This usually grounds both kites and can leave you with a tangled mess. You can avoid this by walking together if you become tangled. The tangle will slide to the base of the string. Then, you’ll be able to easily untangle it while still flying.
Now that we’ve detailed common problems, keep these tips in mind the next time you’re kiting.
Easy To Follow Dos and Don’ts
Don’t fly kites near people, especially young children. You can easily get someone entangled in the string and it’s an accident waiting to happen. This is a hobby that should be enjoyed in an area with few people around, not a largely populated area.
Don’t go near roads. A large, open space is ideal. Practicing your hobby near roads and cars is dangerous and can lead to an accident, especially if you land in the road.
Stay far away from power lines. This is the #1 rule in kiting. You don’t want your string tangled up anywhere near a power line, which can cause serious injuries or even death.
Avoid flying near airports. You don’t want to disturb a low-flying aircraft or get in its flight path.
Avoid dogs. Dogs find kites interesting and they will try to grab it and run away with it.
With these easy to follow troubleshooting tips, anyone can become an expert flyer. All that’s left is to wait for a windy day.
